Can't export variable in .bash_profile ubuntu 18.04
Solution 1:
Probably not what you're looking for, but I don't believe .bash_profile exists. Try adding that export command to .profile instead.
Aka, echo "export SPRING_PROFILES_ACTIVE=local" >> .profile
(Tested on Debian Stretch; I don't use Ubuntu, but the fact you said "I create .bash_profile" is odd)
Solution 2:
For your reference:
Below is login shell startup file processing diagram for different shells
(Credit for diagram is going to Shantanu Kulkarni who posted it in yEd gallery)